Satoransky headlines Czech OQT squad loaded with World Cup players

The Czech Republic have named Tomas Satoransky and nine other players from their team that finished sixth at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in an 18-man squad for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Canada.

Satoransky, 29, was among the standout players at the tournament in the Far East, averaging 15.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 8.5 assists as the Czech team advanced to the Quarter-Finals before falling to Australia.

Coach Ronen Ginzburg has included veteran center Jan Vesely in the preliminary squad. Vesely was unable to bounce back from a knee injury in time to play at the World Cup.

The Czechs have raised eyebrows by naming Jan Zidek in the 18-man preliminary squad for the OQT. Zidek, who plays American college basketball at Pepperdine, is the son of former NBA center Jiri “George” Zidek and the grandson of FIBA Hall of Fame center Jiri Zidek Sr.

The Czech Republic will open their first training camp in Podebrady on June 8 and following preparation games against Finland in Prague (June 12) and Kralovka (June 13), will return to Podebrady to continue practicing.

The national team will then take part in a tournament in Hamburg, Germany, before traveling to Prague for a third training camp. It is there that Vesely will link up with the team for the first time. Satoransky and another important veteran in the team, Jaromir Bohacik, will not join the Czech team until they reach Victoria, Canada, the site of the OQT.

The Czechs will have to win the OQT, which tips off on June 29 and has the Final on July 4, to reach the Tokyo Games. They will play in Group B with Uruguay and Turkey, while in Group A will be Canada, Greece and China. There will also be OQTs in Croatia, Lithuania and Serbia.

Already in the field for the tournament at the Olympics are Spain, Argentina, France, Australia, USA, Nigeria, Iran and Japan.